NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Second Run Blu-ray (April 2025): Second Run has transferred Juraj Herz's Oil Lamps to Blu-ray. It is cited as follows: "The sources for the digitization were the original image negative and the original sound negative. Film materials are preserved by the Národní filmový archiv, Prague. The restoration was done in 2023." The look of Oil Lamps is a striking blend of historical realism and psychological surrealism, defined by Dodo Simoncic’s black-and-white cinematography and Juraj Herz’s direction. The wide shots of the Secession-era Czech town and the low-key lighting of the Malina house create a stark, gothic atmosphere, while the surreal flashbacks and oil lamp motif add a layer of emotional depth. The filmmakers utilize a muted color palette to capture the early 20th-century Czech town of Jilemnice, with soft earth tones, faded reds, and pale blues, reflecting the characters’ stifled lives and the era’s somber atmosphere. It looks remarkable in 1080P with highly pleasing detail while grain can appear blocky. Overall, I would say this is a triumph for the film's physical media HD presentation. The upgrade from the previous 2K restoration (used for the 2018 DVD - we haven't reviewed to compare) to 4K offers a noticeable improvement in detail and contrast.

NOTE: We have added 64 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE.

On their Blu-ray, Second Run uses a linear PCM dual-mono track (24-bit) in the original Czech language. The ambient soundscape of Petrolejové lampy is a vital component, subtle yet immersive - setting viewers in the early 20th-century Czech town and amplifying the film’s psychological tension. The exterior scenes feature the howl of the wind, the crunch of snow underfoot, and the distant bark of dogs, creating a stark atmosphere that matches Kučera’s wide shots of the rooftops and barren fields. There is hollow gunfire on a few occasions; notably at the beach. There is a poignant and evocative score by Lubos Fiser (Adele Has Not had Supper Yet, Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians, Morgiana, Valerie and Her Week of Wonders,) which reflects the somber tone of Juraj Herz’s 1971 drama. His approach features a dark romanticism, primarily through strings, choirs, and piano, creating a haunting leitmotif that captures Štěpa’s inner turmoil and her unattainable dreams of love and family. Second Run offers optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Second Run Blu-ray offers a Projection Booth commentary - running for about an hour from the start of the film - that features film historians Mike White, Kat Ellinger (All The Colours Of Sergio Martino,) and Jonathan Owen, offering insights into Oil Lamps’ production, themes, and place within the Czechoslovak New Wave. They discuss Herz’s Holocaust survivor background, the film’s adaptation from Jaroslav Havlíček’s novel, and the performances of Janžurová and Cepek, etc. The trio’s collaborative approach is known for blending scholarly analysis with engaging anecdotes, making this commentary accessible yet informative. It adds significant depth, helping viewers appreciate the film’s historical and cultural significance, especially given its Palme d’Or nomination in 1972. Included is a 13-minute short, A Conversation on a Train (Rozhovor ve vlaku, 1947,) directed by Vladimír Čech. It is an early Czech public information film addressing the dangers of alcohol and sexually transmitted diseases. The film, produced post-World War II, reflects the era’s health education efforts and may use a cautionary tale format, aligning with Pavel’s health in Oil Lamps. There is also a restored trailer. There is an illustrated booklet that includes a new essay by Peter Hames, a renowned Czech cinema expert, exploring the film’s New Wave context, Herz’s Holocaust perspective, and its adaptation from Havlíček’s novel. Michael Brooke's contributions are conspicuous by their absence in the extras.

Juraj Herz's Petrolejové lampy (Oil Lamps) unfolds in a small Czech town at the turn of the 20th century, adapting Jaroslav Havlíček’s novel with a screenplay by Herz, Meir Dohnal and Václav Sasek (Miloš Forman’s The Firemen's Ball.) The film follows a three-act structure: the first act introduces Štěpa’s vibrant personality and the societal pressures leading to her marriage, the second act delves into the marriage’s disintegration and Pavel’s decline, and the third act resolves with his institutionalization and Štěpa’s resignation and quiet defiance. The pacing is deliberate, mirroring the slow decay of Pavel’s health and the oppressive atmosphere of the town, though the middle act’s focus on Štěpa’s isolation can feel repetitive. The nonlinear flashbacks, blending Štěpa’s memories with present-day despair, add psychological depth, aligning with the Czechoslovak New Wave’s experimental storytelling. Lead performances are exceptional; Štěpa Kiliánová (Iva Janžurová - Coach to Vienna, Morgiana) - a vibrant, independent woman whose spirit is crushed by marriage and Pavel Malina (Petr Cepek - The Valley of the Bees, Adelheid) who is a tragic figure. Pavel’s descent into illness and isolation is hauntingly portrayed by Cepek, whose raw indifference conveys both victimhood and culpability. His refusal to engage with Štěpa adds a layer of psychological complexity. The characters are richly drawn, serving the film’s exploration of societal and personal decay, though their depth is sometimes overshadowed by the narrative’s appealing focus on atmosphere. The Second Run Blu-ray release of Oil Lamps is a highly commendable preservation effort, showcasing Juraj Herz’s 1971 drama with a lavish 4K restoration while the extras provide valuable context, with the hour-long commentary and booklet standing out. This release solidifies Oil Lamps as a physical media 'New Wave' gem, appealing to fans of Czechoslovak cinema. Absolutely recommended.

Gary Tooze